Some keep the doors open to offer some much-needed products and services.

The normally bustling downtown Bristol looked a little lonely on a snowy Thursday; some businesses were dark and closed because of our most recent storm.

Signs were posted for postponements on some doors, but a welcoming sign to come and get warm with one of life's food staples -- pizza -- was too much to pass up. "We're open today. It looks like a lot of people are not open, but we weathered the storm and we came in," says Little Italy owner Roland Ramirez.

Then the question was whether to remain open because so many people were staying home because of the storm. "We were debating around 11:30 whether we should close because there was nobody around. Then all of a sudden people started popping in, so we're here for the duration," Ramirez said.

Ramirez tells us that he was proud of the city for getting the streets and sidewalks cleared so that those who ventured out would be safe.

Out on Volunteer Parkway, we found another open sign at Auto Zone. Drivers need automobile parts, especially during bad weather.